Elevator drive and distributor



y 1965 AJBOGDAN ETAL 31955;?!1

ELEVATOR DRIVE A813 DISTHI'HUTQRQ Original Filed April; 21.. I96];

INVENTORS.

AEEXANDER BOGDAN FRANK D. JONES JAMES D. WILKINS ATTORNEY United StatesPatent Ofi Bldfiflll Patented July 20, 1965 Free 3 Claims. (Cl. 198-193)This invention relates to an elevator and more particularly to anelevator of the type mounted on and extending rearwardly from a mobilecrop harvester. Still more particularly this invention relates to a newand novel method of driving the elevator and for a distributing means tobe attached to the elevator at its discharge end which will distributematerial evenly over the length of a trailing receptacle.

This is a continuation of previous application Ser. No. 104,714, filedApril 21, 1961, now abandoned.

It is the primary object to the present invention to provied a new andnovel type of drive mechanism for the aforedescribed type of an elevatorfeaturing a rotary type hydraulic motor connected to a transverse driveshaft on the elevator and positioned at the rear upper end of theelevator housing. The transverse'shaft operates to drive a chain type ofconveyor over laterally disposed walls extending between uprightsidewalls of the elevator housing. Hydraulic conduit means supplyingpower to the hydraulic motor are supported on one of the uprightsidewalls of the housing and extends from the harvester to the rotarytype hydraulic motor.

Another main object of the invention is to provide a rotary typedistributing device beneath the discharge end of the elevator whichreceives the material or crops being discharged and distributes them thelength of the trailer. The distributing device is composed of atransverse shaft having a series of angularly spaced radial flexibleflights thereon and a series of axially spaced radial discs on theshaft. The material will gravitate on the flight elements and, dependingupon the radial point of contact on the flight elements, will bedistributed various distances from the distributing device. The degreeof force impelled by the flexible elements against the falling materialis proportional to the length or distance the ears contact the paddlesfrom the rotary shaft.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a drivemechanism between the upper drive shaft on the elevator and the rotaryshaft of the distributor. By providing the hydraulic motor at the upperdrive shaft, the force required to drive the rotary distributingmechanism or device is not transmitted through the chains of theelevator as would occur in a conventional method of driving such adevice from the lower end of the elevator. Also, the hydraulicallydriven elevator can be remotely controlled by use of a conventional oiland on hydraulic valve. It is necessary only that the necessaryhydraulic lines he installed.

By selection of the proper type of control valve overload protection maybe provided, thus avoiding damage to the mechanism if overloads occur.Since the hydraulic motor produces torque in proportion to the oilpressure, overloading the drive obstructs the flow of oil until thenecessary pressure rise occurs to produce the higher torque required. Bylimiting the allowable pressure rise through use of a pressure reliefvalve, overload protection is provided.

Under some conditions, it may be desirable to have provisions forreversing the elevating mechanism. This can be accomplished with thehydraulic drive by reversing the oil flow through the motor by propervalving.

The distributing device is pivoted about the elevator uppersliaft inorder to provide an increased range of material distribution, which maybe necessary in order to handle a wider variety of materials with thediiferent specific gravity, humidity, shapes or other characteristics,without changing the tension on the drive belt.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent tothose skilled in the art as the nature of the invention is betterunderstood from the following descriptions and as shown in theaccompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a rear and side perspective of the rear portion of theself-propelled harvester showing a discharge elevator incorporating thefeatures of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the upper or discharge end of theelevator and the associated distributing mechanism.

The harvester, here indicated in its entirety by the reference numeralit! may be of any conventional type such as a combine or pelletingmachine which has a rear discharge. The harvester It is supported at itsrear on a transverse axle 11 having transversely spaced wheels 12, 13thereon. The harvester ill has its own power source as indicated by themotor 14. An hydraulic system, not shown, is driven by the motor 14 in aconventional manner and has .a pair of hydraulic conduits 15, 16extending rearwardly from the motor.

The elevator 17 has a lower material intake end, as indicated by thehopper 18, adjacent to the harvester It and for receiving the harvestedcrops therefrom. The elevator 17 has also an upper discharge end, showngenerally in FIG. 2. The elevator 17 is composed of a rigid elongatedelevator housing 29 having transversely spaced and upright sidewalls 21,2-2 interconnected by an upper floor panel 23 and a lower floor panel24.

An upper or main elevator drive shaft 26 extends between the walls 21,22 at the upper discharge end of the elevator. The upper floor has adownwardly curved upper end or flange 23U. A lower sprocket shaft 27 isprovided at the lower end of the elevator and also extends between theside walls Zll, 22. The upper drive shaft 26, supports transverselyspaced drive sprockets 28, 29 as does the lower sprocket shaft 27. Aflight type conveyor has a pair of continuous chain members 36, 31mounted over the respective sprockets carrying transverse flights 32therebetween. The chains 3%, 31 are continuous and provide an upper runwhich rides over the upper door 23 and a lower run which rides over thelower floor 24.

An hydraulic motor, indicated by its housing 35, is drivingly mounted onthe shaft 26. The hydraulic motor is of a rotary type and it may be ofany of a series of conventional type rotary motors. The specific type ofmotor used is of a type shown and described in U.S. Patent 2,821,171,and if details of the motor are desired, reference may be had thereto. Apair of adjusting rods 35, 3'7 are provided on the upper ends of theside walls 21, 22 and are connected to the shaft 26 for purposes ofmaintaining sufficient distance between the shafts 26, 27 so as toprevent slack in the chains 30, 31. The rods 36, 37 are connected to thejournals for the shaft 26. Take-up is provided by means of nuts 38, 39which bear against L-shaped brackets 4%, 4-1 rigid with the side walls21, 22. Slots, such as is indicated at 42, are provided in the sidewalls, 21, 22 to accommodate longitudinal movement of the shaft 2%relative to the side walls.

A rotary type distributing mechanism, here indicated in its entirety bythe reference numeral is disposed beneath the upper discharge end of theelevator so as to receive material passing over the upper end of theelevator and for purposes of distributing the material into a trailer orother type of trailing vehicle. The distributor 45 includes supportingstructure including on one side a beammember 46 and on the opposite sidean elongated supon the shaft 26. The shield support 47 serves anadditional function as a shield for the drive mechanism to the device45. The lower ends of the structural member 46 and shield *47 carries ahorizontally disposed shaft 48. The shaft 48 carries thereon a series ofangularly spaced radial arms 50'whicl1 are composed of flexiblematerial, such as tire carcasses. Also supported on the shaft 48 arethree radial discs 51, 52, 53. L-shaped brackets 54 are fastened tofaces of the discs 51, 52, 53 and the flexible arms 50. The rotary driveshaft 48 is driven from the main drive shaft 26 of the elevator by meansof a V-belt 55 which extends over pulleys 56, 67 mounted on respectiveshafts 26, 48. An idler pulley 59 and suitable supporting bracketstructure are provided for maintaining tension in the belt 55.

As may be seen from viewing the drawings, the entire distributor device45 depends and is pivotally connected to the main shaft 26'of theelevator. It lies beneath the discharge end of the elevator forreceiving material therefrom. The position of the device 45 may beadjusted by means of a metal strap 65, bolted at 66 to the-side wall 22of the elevator. The strap 65 has a series of openings 67 so that itseffective length may be adjusted, and is connected by means of a bolt 68to the structural beam 46. Therefore, by merely placing the bolt 66 inthe proper openings 67, the location of thedevice 45 relative to thedischarge end of the elevator is readily provided. A second adjustingstrap on the opposite side of the elevator maybe used if desired forstability purposes.

The hydraulic motor 35 is connected to the hydraulic feed lines 15, 16by means of hydraulic conduits '70, 71 carried on the outer side of theside wall 22, suitable flexible hoses or connections 72, 73 beingprovided to connect the conduits 15, 16 to the conduits 7t '71. Similarflexible conduits or hoses 74, 75 extend from the upper end of theconduit 70, 71 directly to the motor housing 35.

The provision of the hydraulic motor 35 and its associated drive shaft26 at the upper end of the elevator has considerable advantages.Primarily, since the material to be conveyed will be moved by theupperrun of the elevator conveyor, the taut side of the conveyor will be theside which is always conveying material. Also, the distributor 45 willbe driven directly from the drive shaft connected to the hydraulic motor35. Consequently the load required to drive the distributor will not becarried by the chains 28, 29 and their associated sprockets. This alsowill reduce maintenance and repair.

The distributor operates in the following manner. Material beingconveyed in the elevator '17 and over its discharge end will fall on theflexible flights 50 of the and rigid elevator housing extending from alower material intake end adjacent to and for receiving material fromthe harvester to an upper discharge end remote from the harvester, thehousing being composed of oppositely disposed upright side wallsinterconnected by laterallydisposed wall means; means mounting the lowerend of the housing on the harvester; a sprocket drive shaft extendingbetween the sidewalls at the upper end of the housing; a sprocket shaftextending between the side walls at the intake end of the elevator;sprockets mounted on the sprocket shafts; a chain conveyor mounted overthe sprockets; a rotary type hydraulic motor supported on the elevatorhousing adjacent its upper end and drivingly connected to the upperdrive shaft; hydraulic conduit means mounted on the side walls andextending from the harvester to the hydraulic motor at the upper end ofthe elevatorta rotary distributor disposed beneath the discharge end ofthe elevator housing for receiving material gravitating therefromcomposed of a horizontal shaft, a series of angularly spaced radial armson the horizontal shaft, and a series of axially spaced radial discsmounted on the horizontal shaft between theradial arms; structuredepending from opposite sides of the elevator housing for supporting therotary distributor; and a drive mechanism extending from the driveshaftof the elevator to the horizontal shaft for effecting rotation of thelatter and at a rate permitting portions of the material to pass betweenthe arms and to contact the arms at varying radial distances from theshaft to thereby vary the distance of throw by the arms; 7 Q

. 2. A discharge elevator for use with a harvester movable forwardlyover the ground, comprising: an elongated and rigid elevator housingextending from a lower material intake end adjacent to and for receivingmaterial from the harvester to an upper discharge end remote from theharvester, the housing being composed of oppositely disposed uprightside Walls interconnected by laterally disposed wall means; meansmounting the lower end of the housing on the harvester; a sprocket driveshaft extending between the side walls at the upper end of the housing;a sprocket shaft extending between the side walls at the intake end ofthe elevator; sprockets mounted on the distributor 45. The distributorwill be driven at a relatively low rate of rotation and consequentlysome material will contact the flights adjacent the shaft 48 whereassome material will contact the flights St) at their outer end. Thematerial contacting the flights 56 at their outer ends will be impelleda considerable distance from the device 45 since the lineal speed ofthat portion of the flight is considerably larger than that portion ofthe flight adjacent to the shaft 48. Similarly the material whichcontacts the flights 50 adjacent the shaft 48 will be driven a verysmall distance by the flight 5t and will generally fall closely adjacentthe area directly beneath the device 45.

While only one form of the invention has been shown, it should berecognized that other forms and variations will occur to those skilledin the art. Therefore, while the preferred form was shown and describedin concise and detailed manner, it should be understood that it was notthe intention in so describing the invention to limit or narrow theinvention beyond the broad concepts set forth a harvester movableelongatedsprocket shafts; a chain conveyor mounted over the sprockets; arotary type hydraulic motor supported on the elevator housing adjacentits upper end and drivingly connected to the upper drive shaft; a rotarydistributor substantially parallel to the drive shaft disposed beneaththe discharge end of the elevator housing for receiving materialgravitating therefrom and composed of a shaft and a series of angularlyspaced radial arms on the shaft; structure depending from the elevatorhousing for supporting the rotary distributor; and a drive mechanismextending from the drive shaft of the elevator to the distributor shaftfor effecting rotation of the latter and at a rate permitting portionsof the material to pass between the arms and to contact the arms atvarying radial distances from the shaft to thereby vary the distance ofthrow bythe arms.

3. For use with an elevator having an elongated and rigid elevatorhousing extending from a lower material intake end to an upper dischargeend and conveying means contained therein, the improvement comprising: adrive shaft at the upper end of the housing; an hydraulic motor at theupper end of the housing connected to the drive shaft; a rotarydistributor disposed beneath the dis-,

, charge end of the elevator housing for receiving materialsdescending'therefrom and composed of a shaft, a series ofangularly'spaced radial arms on the shaft, and a series of axiallyspaced radial discs mounted on the shaft be tween the radial arms;structure depending from the upper end of the elevator housing forsupporting the rotary. distributor; and a'drive mechanism extending fromthe drive shaft on the elevator to the distributor shaft for effectingrotation of the latter and at a rate permitting portions of the materialto pass beween the arms and to. contact Y. 5 the arms at varying radialdistances from the shaft to 1,780,299 thereby vary the distance of throwby the arms. 2,395,349 2,697,609 References Cited by the Examiner2,362,717 UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 3,619,025 1,250,737 12/17 Wartchow198128X 1,426,212 8/22 Petersen 198-128 1,624,210 4/27 Bruce.

Jackson 214-519 Slavicek 198-403 Chase et 211. Running 198128 X Young.

SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner. WILLIAM B. LA BORDE, Examiner.

1. A DISCHARGE ELEVATOR FOR USE WITH A HARVESTER MOVABLE FORWARDLY OVERTHE GROUND, COMPRISING: AN ELONGATED AND RIGID ELEVATOR HOUSINGEXTENDING FROM A LOWER MATERIAL INTAKE END ADJACENT TO AND FOR RECEIVINGMATERIAL FROM THE HARVESTER TO AN UPPER DISCHARGE END REMOTE FROM THEHARVESTER, THE HOUSING BEING COMPOSED OF OPPOSITELY DISPOSED UPRIGHTSIDE WALLS INTERCONNECTED BY LATERALLY DISPOSED WALL MEANS; MEANSMOUNTING THE LOWER END OF THE HOUSING ON THE HARVESTER; A SPROCKET DRIVESHAFT EXTENDING BETWEEN THE SIDE WALLS AWT THE UPPER END OF THE HOUSING;A SPROCKET SHAFT EXTENDING BETWEEN THE SIDE WALLS AT THE INTAKE END OFTHE ELEVATOR; SPROCKETS MOUNTED ON THE SPROCKET SHAFTS; A CHAIN CONVEYORMOUNTED OVER THE SPROCKETS; A ROTARY TYPE HYDRAULIC MOTOR SUPPORTED ONTHE ELEVATOR HOUSING ADJACENT ITS UPPER END AND DRIVINGLY CONNECTED TOTHE UPPER DRIVE SHAFT; HYDRAULIC CONDUIT MEANS MOUNTED ON THE SIDE WALLSAND EXTENDING FROM THE HARVESTER TO THE HYDRAULIC MOTOR AT THE UPPER ENDOF THE ELEVATOR; A ROTARY DISTRIBUTOR DISPOSED BENEATH THE DISCHARGE ENDOF THE ELEVATOR HOUSING FOR RECEIVING MATERIAL GRAVITATING THEREFROMCOMPOSED OF A HORIZONTAL SHAFT, A SERIES OF ANGULARLY SPACED RADIAL ARMSON THE HORIZONTAL SHAFT, AND A SERIES OF AXIALLY SPACED RADIAL DISCSMOUNTED ON THE HORIZONTAL SHAFT BETWEEN THE RADIAL ARMS; STRUCTUREDEPENDING FROM OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE ELEVATOR HOUSING